MLB Daily Free Picks, Predictions, Odds
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MLB Expert Picks for Friday, May 3
Our VI baseball betting experts have compiled their MLB picks for Friday, May 3 and they're focusing on the matchups below:
- Texas Rangers vs Kansas City Royals (7:40 p.m. ET)
- San Diego Padres vs Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 p.m. ET)
Rangers vs Royals Free Picks
The Royals are 19-13 this season as a surprise AL Central contender. Pitching has been the reason, allowing just over three runs per game on average as the 'under' is 20-10-2 in Kansas City games this season. It should be a pleasant night at Kauffman Stadium as the Royals will face the 2023 World Series champions.
Texas is just 17-15 this season but the pitching staff has excelled of late, allowing no more than four runs in nine of the past 10 games. Texas allowed just two runs in the last series with Washington and in five of the past eight games the Rangers have allowed one or zero runs.
Texas has a 0.57 bullpen ERA with a 0.67 WHIP in the past 10 games, with opponents hitting just .142. Kansas City's relief unit has also fared well with a .192 batting average against and a 2.73 ERA in the past 10 games.
Micheal Lorenzen has been an average big league starter for a few years and his pace in three starts with Texas has maintained that pace. Brady Singer may be on his way to a breakout season with a 2.62 ERA in six starts for the 2018 1st round pick.
Singer has always had stronger home splits and this season his ERA is 2.59 in Kansas City with opposing batters hitting .172. Kansas City pitching has allowed two or fewer runs in six of the past nine games and the Royals are 12-6 at home this season.
Kansas City incredibly has the #1 run differential in the American League right now even with modest offensive success. An overlooked factor is defense as Kansas City and Texas both grade as top five defensive teams in MLB right now.
Nine looks like a reach for these teams with strong pitching possible and neither team providing elite offensive results so far in 2024.
Padres vs D-Backs Free Picks
Slade Cecconi has been a nice early story for the Diamondbacks. There were at least seven Arizona starters rated ahead of Cecconi at the start of the season. But injuries to Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez have opened a spot in the rotation and Cecconi has taken advantage - so far.
Cecconi pitched 27 innings for Arizona in his major league debut last season and had a 4.33 ERA, while giving up four homers. He's made two starts this season, both on the road in pitcher's parks, going six innings each against the Giants and Mariners. He has a 2.25 ERA.
But now hitter's have more of a book on Cecconi. He's also pitching at hitter-friendly Chase Field and facing the best offense he's seen. The Padres have the third-highest road batting average at .274. They rank ninth on the road in slugging percentage and third in on-base percentage when away from Petco Park.
Oh, yes, the Padres also have their best pitcher going here, Dylan Cease. He has been sharp in five of his six starts this season posting a 2.78 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. Cease has held five of his six opponents to two earned runs, or fewer.
The Diamondbacks are 2-5 in their past seven games. They are averaging two runs per game during this time frame.
Free MLB Money Line Picks
Looking for a straight up winner? The Vegas Insider MLB Money Line Picks focuses on just picking the winner. It's as simple as that and knowing that there's no clock in baseball, your wagers are never losers until the final out is punched. Our Free MLB Money Line Picks are known for their value, especially when our stable of experts lay into some live underdogs.
Free MLB Run-Line Picks
Run-Line Picks is MLB can be viewed as ATS or Against the Spread Picks since a spread or in this case, a run-line is involved. Oddsmakers always open run-line spreads as -1.5 or +1.5 and then there is money associated with each run-line spread. Instead of backing a heavy money-line favorite, bettors have the option to back that team to win by two or more runs at a lower price. When taking the underdog at the +1.5 price, your wager can still lose the game outright but if it stays within the spread (1.5) then you'll be okay. Our MLB Run Line Free Picks will feature a selection either on the favorite or the underdog and will include betting analysis on how to lay or take the points.
Free MLB Over Under Totals Picks
If you’re undecided on MLB ML or MLB Run Line Free Picks, you must be a Totals bettor and our Free MLB Over Under Totals Picks allow you to cheer for either a slugfest at the ballpark or a great pitching battle. Everybody loves the longball and cheering for an Over is much more fun but that doesn’t prevent our experts from playing the Under in our Free MLB Picks page and look for strikeouts. All selections featured in the MLB Over Under Totals Picks include betting analysis and tips on how to find the best markets.
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